Quos neque Tydides, nec Larissaeus Achilles, 'Hic aliud majus miseris multoque tremendum 200 205 210 215 220 197. Larissaeus, from Larissa, a town in Thessaly, near the district whence Achilles came.-199. An incident admirably introduced and told, and the subject of a celebrated piece of statuary, known by the name of the Laocoon. Majus, than the horse and Sinon's capture; that is, as it seemed to them.-200. Turbat. So that they were less able to form a correct judgment as to what they should do with the horse.-201. Ductus sorte. This was not unusual in the choice of priests. Neptune was one of the tutelary gods of Troy.-203. Gemini, with pariterque (205), indicates their combined motion.-208. Legit. Slowly traverses. Sinuat terga, in sinus terga plicat.-210. Oculos suffecti. See Ecl. i. 52, &c.-212. Agmine. See v. 90.-216. Post, postea. 217. The richness of vocables is deserving of notice: orbibus, volumine, spiris.-218. Bis. Their size is to be inferred from this, that though two folds were round his waist and two round his neck, their necks and heads rose above his. Circumdati collo; the ordinary construction; circumdati terga, Ecl. i. 52.-221. Vittas. Even the sacred fillet could not protect him.223. Qualis mugitus. Clamores talis, qualis mugitus taurus saucius tollit. Taurus et incertam excussit cervice securim. Dividimus muros et moenia pandimus urbis. 225 230 235 Sacra canunt, funemque manu contingere gaudent. 240 245 226. Tritonidis. See 171. This increased the probability of Sinon's tale. The serpent was sacred to Pallas.-230. Qui-laeserit. This subjunctive marks the ground on which the popular opinion pronounced Laocoon's doom as deserved-'inasmuch as he.'-233. Conclamant; con, all with one voice.-234. Et gives an intensive force-'we break down the walls; ay, we throw open the battlements.'-235. Accingunt, se. See the full form, Aen. i. 210, and note. Rotarum lapsus: rotas labentes.-237. Fatalis. See 165.-238. Pueri, &c. As to a virgin goddess.-240. The onward progress of the horse is described. Subit, ascending at the entrance; illabitur, gentle motion onward, when in the middle of the city; substitit, stoppages at the gate of the citadel; sistimus, its arrival there.-246. Cassandra. A daughter of Priam, who obtained from Apollo the gift of prophecy, but with the condition mentioned in the next line. Hence her name is still used to indicate any one who truthfully foretells evil, and is not believed.— 248. Miseri-quibus esset. The subjunctive marks in what respect they were wretched-'inasmuch as.' Their real misery is contrasted with their rejoicings. 'Vertitur interea coelum et ruit oceano Nox, 250 255 260 265 270 In somnis, ecce, ante oculos moestissimus Hector 275 250. A peaceful picture, to heighten the effect of the description of the subsequent tumult. Heaven is represented as a concave sphere rolling round-the night-heaven rises from the ocean.--254. Phalanx -instructis; all indicative of preparation.-255. The moon's light (see 340) was favourable to the Greeks, unless, with some, we make silentia lunae to mean a time when the moon was obscured. See 360. Tradition bore that Troy was captured at full moon.-259. Laxat. Liberans Danaos laxat claustra.-263. Neoptolemus or Pyrrhus, son of Achilles, and consequently grandson of Peleus (Pelides). Primus. Foremost in the descent, or perhaps first in his art; he was a physician.-265. Urbem. From the citadel.-270. Hector. The well-known hero of Troy, son of Priam, whom Achilles having slain, dragged thrice at his chariot round the walls of Troy (according to Virgil, i. 484).-275. Exuvias. Hector had slain and spoiled Patroclus, who wore the armour of Achilles.-276. Jaculatus. After he had darted. Accepit patrios. Ultro flens ipse videbar “Heu fuge, nate dea, teque his,” ait, “eripe flammis. 280 285 290 295 Et magis atque magis, quamquam secreta parentis 300 Clarescunt sonitus, armorumque ingruit horror. In segetem veluti cum flamma furentibus austris 305 279. Ipse. 'I as well as he.'-287. The reader must have discovered that such words as dixit are frequently left to his mind to supply, as in ille nihil. Nec moratur; that is, by answering my idle questions.-292. Si possent implies a negative if they could be defended, which they could not be. Such is the force of the imperfect subjunctive in similar sentences.-297. Aeternum; because the fires of Vesta were never allowed to die out. Hector is represented as giving Aeneas these sacred things which he had saved from the holy place of Vesta's temple, adytis penetralibus.-298. Miscentur luctu, turbantur variis formis luctus.300. Two circumstances rendered the house of Anchises sequestered (recessit) it was far separated from other houses, and it stood amidst trees.- -302. Excutior, excutio me: with the force of a Greek middle verb.-304, &c. A striking simile, where the feelings of Aeneas, while listening to the frightful tumult, are likened to those of a shepherd hearing the roar of flames, or of a swollen torrent. Praecipitisque trahit silvas; stupet inscius alto 310 315 320 Quo res summa loco, Panthu? quam prendimus arcem?” Dardaniae. Fuimus Troes, fuit Ilium, et ingens 325 330 335 307. Inscius, because ignorant of the cause.-309. Fides; referring, probably, to Sinon; and ironical, as in the expression Punica fides. -310. Deiphobi, a son of Priam. See Aen. vi. 495, &c.—311. Volcano, for igne. See Ecl. v. 69; Aen. i. 177, and numerous similar passages.312. Sigea. A promontory near Troy, named Sigeum, gives name here to the adjoining sea (freta). Lata means, 'in all their breadth.'-315. Bello, the dative.-319. Arcis, &c. Phoebi, cujus fanum in arce erat.-322. Res summa. The public safety was the chief concern. Arcem, a height; a fortress generally built on a height; here, any place of strength. -325. Fuimus, et non amplius sumus.-326. Argos. See 55.-328. Moenibus; referring to the fortifications of the citadel in which the horse now was. See 234. - 329. Miscet, passim jactat.-334. Primi. Those first exposed to their attack.-335. Caecus Mars is an engagement (see Ecl. v. 69), in which the resistance is made at random, and, here by inference, without hope of success. |